A community fund which has distributed more than $1.5 million over the past five years to projects in the Waitaki Valley has won a major national award.
The Waitaki Community Fund has won the community award at the national 2011 Sustainable 60 Awards, for a funding model that helps build long-term relationships and supports vital community projects in the Waitaki Basin.
The Waitaki Fund supports local initiatives that generate lasting benefits for people living near Meridian's Waitaki generation assets. It is managed by a panel of community representatives and Meridian staff who allocate grants to projects.
"Some of the groups we've supported include volunteer fire brigades, schools, environmental restoration groups, museums and local divisions of Plunket and the Cancer Society," fund panel member Vicki Munro said said.
Meridian's community relations manager Shelley O'Dwyer said the Waitaki fund was the largest and longest-running of the company's five community funds.
"It's fantastic to play a part in supporting such a wide variety of people and organisations who work so hard for their community. I'm thrilled to see the fund recognised by this national award," she said.
